Dr. Zakir Naik

21st June 2010

Background Briefing

The UK government has imposed a ban on Dr. Zakir Naik, an eminent Islamic scholar from India, citing reasons that are based on twisted facts. The UK government's Home Office issued an exclusion order against Dr. Zakir Naik. The ban is the latest in the series of UK Government's "Naming and Shaming" policy introduced a couple of years ago.

Dr. Naik was due to arrive in the UK last Friday, June 18, to begin a speaking tour to huge audiences at three places: (1) the Sheffield Arena, (2) London's Wembley Arena and (3) the LG Arena in Birmingham's NEC. The exclusion order was issued just a day before his visit to UK, revoking his already issued 5 years UK Visa.

Mumbai-based Dr. Naik has in recent years built up a huge international following among Muslims as well as Non-Muslims and his lectures and debates on the topic of comparative religion are telecast regularly on Peace TV and many other satellite TV channels.

Dr Naik will address the media in a press briefing tomorrow, Tuesday 22nd June 2010, at 3.30 pm, at the Mumbai Press Club, where he will clarify on the misinformation campaign set out by the UK govt. and some sections of the UK media by playing his earlier speeches which clearly state that he "unequivocally condemns any acts of violence including 9/11, 7/7 and 7/11 [the serial train bombing in Mumbai], which are completely and absolutely unjustifiable on any basis."

Dr Zakir Naik Exclusion Press Release (in pdf format)

In coordination and warm welcome,

Maqbool Barwelkar

Public Relation Manager
Cell: +91-9769290942